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2010-08-04

China's "3D Express Coach" Straddling Bus Can Drive Over Cars

China may have found an environmentally friendly way to save money while easing congestion on city roads, Engadget reports.

Instead of spending millions to widen roads, the Shenzhen Huashi Future Parking Equipment company is developing a "3D Express Coach" (also called a "three-dimensional fast bus") that will allow cars less than 2 meters high to travel underneath the upper level carrying passengers.

Straddling buses will be made to fit under city overpasses.

A view from under one of the road-straddling buses. Cars less than 2 meters high will be able to pass underneath these giant buses.

When completed, the straddling buses will run on "relay charges" of electricity and solar power.

The front and rear of the buses will emit ultrasonic waves to keep trucks or too-tall cars from entering the "tunnel."

CHINA'S - 3 D EXPRESS COACH.wmv

Proposed by Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment Co., Ltd, the model looks like a subway or light-rail train bestriding the road. It is 4-4.5 m high with two levels: passengers board on the upper level while other vehicles lower than 2 m can go through under. Powered by electricity and solar energy, the bus can speed up to 60 km/h carrying 1200-1400 passengers at a time without blocking other vehicles’ way. Also it costs about 500 million yuan to build the bus and a 40-km-long path for it, only 10% of building equivalent subway. It is said that the bus can reduce traffic jams by 20-30%.

Here is the presentation by Song Youzhou, chairman of Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment Co., Ltd.